The BCIE will be financing restoration works on the National Theater, which include renovating the electricity system and modernizing the facilities in general.

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) announced that "... financing will allow the development of a program consisting of investments for an active and passive fire protection system, renovation of the electricity system for greater security and modernization of the stage enclosure, mechanization of the stage, sound aspects, lighting aspects and installation of an acoustic shell, in addition to giving independence to the administrative offices and warehouses, excluding them from the main building of the Theater."

A report by InSight Crime highlights the homicide rate registered in Costa Rica in 2017, which was 12.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest number in its history.

The report indicates that Costa Rica is a country that has traditionally been considered "peaceful," and in respect to the escalation of the homicide rate, an increase that local authorities attribute to organized crime, the report indicates that "... lack of retrospective and a vague methodology is weakening the authorities' attempts to attribute blame to organized crime."

Citizens are less than two months away from going to a ballotage to elect a new government without having discussed the country's priority issues, even though some of them require urgent attention and a deep national discussion in order to find a solution.

The 2018 budget approved by the Legislative Assembly includes allocations for the purchase of medicines and equipment and the improvement and expansion of police posts and jails.

From a statement issued by the Legislature:

January 5, 2018.After extensive analysis and reaching the respective consensus, the Legislative Assembly approved, during the Plenary Session on Friday, with 71 votes, the General State Budget andits respective Wages Act for the current fiscal year, which amounts to $5.5205 billion.

One in five companies claims to have been a victim of crime this year, and 80% say that about 10% of their operating costs correspond to security.

From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):

December 18, 2017The situation of insecurity that the country is experiencing is also hitting private sector companies hard.This has been revealed by the IV Quarterly Business Survey "Pulso Empresarial" (Business Pulse), prepared by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP).

The government has announced it will buy an aircraft and maritime interdiction boats, and will contract maintenance for aircraft in the National Air Service.

The Cabinet has endorsed the purchase of a DHC-6 Twin Otter 400 aircraft as well as maritime interdiction vessels DAMEN 1102 and three contracts for maintenance of aircraft order to strengthen the capacity of the National Air Service (Senan).

The concept protects those who work for the state or in a formal company, at the price of excluding those looking for a job and in particular young people.

OPINIONJorge Cobas González

In France, a country characterized by being one of the most advanced in protecting workers, the pendulum of history is changing the direction of its swing, meeting the demands of reality: the competitiveness of economies is based on the efficiency with which their resources are used.And in the Age of Knowledge, the human factor is the first to be taken into consideration in this matter.

The safety warnings issued by Germany have affected the flow of tourists from that country.

Guatemalan tour operators and wholesalers say that several countries have issued warnings, Germany being the strictest.

According to Prensalibre.com, "the cancellation of visits began in 2009, worsened in 2010 and expects to continue, as promotions of national tourist sites still are not appearing in German catalogs aimed at potential travelers."